YHA Travel to Learn Limited

YHA Travel to Learn Limited is an Australian nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering young people through travel and education. Established as a foundation under YHA Australia, it aims to unlock the potential of youth by providing access to meaningful travel experiences and employment opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible due to financial, geographic, or logistical barriers.

Background and Mission

Rooted in YHA Australia’s extensive history of more than 80 years in offering affordable, quality accommodation for travellers, YHA Travel to Learn leverages this legacy to focus on young Australians. Its mission is to remove impediments that prevent young people, especially those from regional, remote, or disadvantaged backgrounds, from accessing curriculum-driven travel, educational funding, and career opportunities.

Key Objectives

YHA Travel to Learn Limited pursues three primary goals:

• Removing Barriers to Travel: The foundation subsidises travel costs for young people, ensuring those who face financial or geographic disadvantages can participate in important educational travel experiences and excursions.

• Empowering Career Pathways: It provides financial support for tertiary or vocational education, targeting youth in regional and remote areas. Additionally, the foundation facilitates career pathways in tourism and hospitality sectors for young people who experience employment barriers.

• Forging Reciprocal Benefits through Social Enterprise: The organisation partners with local, purpose-aligned groups to deliver tours, workshops, events, and activities that benefit disadvantaged young people, creating social value and community engagement.

Partnerships and Impact

YHA Travel to Learn works closely with not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises across Australia that share its commitment to improving young people’s lives. By collaborating with these groups, the foundation ensures its funding and programs align with community needs and expand their reach.

As part of YHA Australia, which is a member of Hostelling International—a global network of over 3,000 hostels in 59 countries—the foundation benefits from longstanding industry partnerships and expertise in sustainable and accessible travel.

Establishment and Recent Developments

The Travel to Learn Foundation was officially launched in October 2024 on the rooftop of YHA Sydney Harbour, highlighting YHA Australia’s ongoing dedication to creating lasting social impact. The launch coincided with research findings showing that a significant portion of Australian families face financial stress that limits their children’s access to educational opportunities outside the classroom, such as school excursions.

By addressing these challenges, YHA Travel to Learn supports Australian families and ensures that young people do not miss critical life experiences due to economic hardship.

YHA Travel to Learn Limited operates with the Australian Business Number (ABN) 67 637 135 990 and is based in New South Wales.

[1] https://traveltolearn.com.au [2] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/2ebb7052-37bc-ea11-a812-000d3ad1fbf8 [3] https://www.yha.com.au [4] https://travelweekly.com.au/yha-australia-launches-travel-to-learn-foundation/ [5] https://travelweekly.com.au/article/yha-australia-launches-travel-to-learn-foundation/